Don’t worry about what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and do that. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive. -Howard ThurmanI know you’ve spoken the word delicious many times, but have you ever used it to describe your life? Wouldn’t you like to? In Steering By Starlight, Martha Beck encourages readers to take steps toward what is “most delicious.”

Are you so busy that you’ve forgotten what’s delicious, what makes you come alive? Well, here’s a way to figure it out: Get in touch with your body. You can use your body as a compass to direct you toward your best destiny. According to Martha Beck, your body knows better than your brain what is right for you. If you do nothing else to determine the best course for your life (and I am talking career, relationships, goals, activities…), using your body as a compass will steer you in the right direction. In fact, when you don’t know what to do or even how you feel, go back to your body. Eckhart Tolle reminds us that awareness of our inner bodies not only brings us into the present moment, but into “Being,” out of the prison of recurring thoughts.

If you’re feeling “stuck,” you’re running your life with your mind and not following your body. Each experience gives you clues to your right life. No move is ever wasted. The only way to stay stuck is to stop moving. Think of the game “Hot and Cold” you played as a kid. The only way to stop receiving clues, the only way to lose, was to stand still.

As you’re rating your activities, there may be thoughts about what you “should” enjoy and what you don’t enjoy but “have to” do.Don’t judge your ratings.Just notice how you feel. You don’t have to do anything about this right now (We'll get to that). If going to work or playing with your kids falls into the negative range, don’t freak out; it may be only one component of an activity that leads to a negative reading. If you got a negative reading on taking a big step, such as scheduling an interview, taking a class, or speaking your mind, don’t trash it yet. A certain amount of nervousness and anxiety is expected if you’re doing something that matters, if it pulls you toward your destiny. Life is experienced most deliciously when we take steps that, according to Martha Beck, are "almost too difficult, almost too fast, almost too complicated. Almost."

In my next post, I am going to talk about what to do with these ratings so that you can fill your life with delicious possibilities. Thank you for taking the step to read this.By the way, you’re getting warmer.

If you have questions or comments on using The Body Compass, please e-mail me or post a comment below. If you would like to receive these blog posts in your e-mail inbox, click the “Subscribe” button.